PHÁI ĐOÀN LIÊN MINH CHÂU ÂU TẠI VIỆT NAM DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION TO VIET NAM

VĂN PHÒNG THƯỜNG TRỰC VỀ NHÂN QUYỀN CỦA CHÍNH PHỦ VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT’S PERMANENT OFFICE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

29th September 2016

Joint Press Release Sharing Vietnamese - European Experiences in Ensuring Human Rights in the Implementation Process of the UNCAT Nha Trang – A one and a half-day international seminar entitled “Sharing Vietnamese - European Experiences in Ensuring Human Rights in the Implementation Process of the UNCAT” convened today. The international seminar is organized by the Vietnamese Government’s Permanent Office on Human Rights in collaboration with the Delegation of the European Union to Viet Nam through the EU-Viet Nam Strategic Dialogue Facility. The international seminar’s objectives aimed to raise the awareness among officials of key central and provincial Government in charge of implementing the human rights policies, and to share experiences in relation to human rights issues as part of the EU-Viet Nam relations. The seminar provided a better understanding of key human rights principles contained in Human Rights Conventions and in particular the United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT) for a large number of key Government officials such as police officers, Procuracy officers, judiciary and other security related officials. Besides, the seminar provided a platform for both sides to exchange experiences with Vietnamese partners and to identify areas where there is would interest on the Vietnamese side in on-going professional exchange and/or transfer of skills related to the UNCAT-implementation. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Son, Director General of the Permanent Office on Human Rights and Mr. Juan Zaratiegui, Political Advisor, Politics, Press & Information Section, Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam delivered the opening remarks at the seminar. The seminar was attended by three leading European Experts: Mr. Andreas Kirsch-wood, Member of German Federal Bar Association and Research Fellow of the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law, presented the processes of and main actors in transforming UNCAT into implementation on national and local level as well as key aspects of UNCAT implementation and highlights of European experiences in combatting torture. Dr. Michelle Farrell, Director, International Law and Human Rights Unit, School of Law and Social Justice, University of Liverpool, UK, discussed about the current trends and situation of human rights in Europe with focus on UNCAT and Mr. Pieter Cronje, International Human Rights and Training Consultant, South Africa, shared experience from EU/EU MS on how to investigate a crime without torturing and how to prevent colleagues from torturing. At the seminar, key Vietnamese speakers brief the overview of Vietnam’s obligation to implement the UN Conventions and in particular the UNCAT of which Vietnam is a membership. Participants were also updated basic contents of the UNCAT and legal basis for implementation in Vietnam in practice. These presentations were made by senior officials of Government agencies included Assoc. Prof, Dr. Dang Dung Chi, Director of the Human Rights Research Institute, Ho Chi Minh National Academy on Politics and Mr.

Le Xuan Thao, expert from the Legal Affairs, Administration and Judicial Reform Department, Ministry of Public Security. The international seminar in Nha Trang received more than 70 participants, including officials from the Permanent Office on Human Rights, the Court and the Procuracy, Ministry of Public Security, National Steering Committee of Human Rights and other key Government officials working on human rights, representatives of Provincial Steering Committees of Human Rights from more than 15 neighboring provinces of Nha Trang as well as local and central level representatives of academic/research institutions and media. Two similar international seminars will be organized in Can Tho on 3rd - 4th October and in Lao Cai on 11th – 12th October 2016. Background Information The EU-Viet Nam Strategic Dialogue Facility is a three-year program (2013-2016) funded by the European Union that aims to support Vietnam's development through the implementation of activities in areas covered by the EU-Viet Nam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) signed in 2012. Media Contacts: - Ms. Vu Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Project Officer, EU – Viet Nam Strategic Dialogue Facility, Tel: (+84) 04 35 16 26 96, Mobile: (+84) 946 299 789, Email: [email protected] - Mr. Do Anh Tuan, Deputy Chief of General Division, The Permanent Office on Human Rights, Mobile: (+84) 912 493 934, Email: [email protected]